Businesses are still dealing with the fallout from a cyberattack that hit 200,000 victims in 150 countries, with many organizations and individuals wondering if they are at risk.Ransomware – a malicious piece of software that locks files on a computer and demands payments to unlock them – is the name of the type of virus that infected the machines.Ransomware attacks have been on the rise and this particular malware known as WannaCry was called "unprecedented" by Europol.WannaCry affected an exploit in the Windows XP operating system on PCs, and Microsoft shortly sent out a fix for the security flaw.But authorities such as the U.K.'sNational Cyber Security Center (NCSC), warned over the weekend that as the working week begins, further cases of ransomware could come to light.Am I at risk?The WannaCry ransomware affects machines running the Windows operating system.It was a security flaw that was originally exploited by the U.S.National Security Agency (NSA) which was then leaked earlier this year.

Hackers are now using this themselves.If you or your organization is running a version of Windows, you could be at risk.What should I do to protect myself?Authorities in the U.S.have issued guidance on what to do.Individuals and small businesses should: Run Windows Update to get the latest software updates.Make sure any anti-virus product is up to date and scan your computer for any malicious programs.bitcoin gtk clientIt's also worth setting up regular auto-scans.bitcoin highest rateBack up important data on your computer in case it gets held for ransom.humint bitcoinLarge organizations should: Apply the latest Microsoft security patches for this particular flaw.bitcoin ipaymu

Back up key data.Ensure all outgoing and incoming emails are scanned for malicious attachments.Ensure anti-virus programs are up to date and conducting regular scans.Educate employees on identifying scams, malicious links and emails that may contain viruses.Make sure to run "penetration tests" against your network's security, no less than once a year, according to the Department of Homeland Security.bitcoin miner malwareWhat if I've already been attacked?bitcoin kurs jahrDo not pay the ransom demanded by the WannaCry ransomware, cybersecurity firm Check Point warned in a blog post Sunday.The company said there is no evidence of the hackers giving people files back.For individuals, it might be worth contacting local IT support services.Businesses should contact law enforcement and provide as much information as possible.Restore backups of data.

How can I prevent ransomware attacks?There are also steps that can be taken to protect against ransomware more generally.These include: Making sure anti-virus programs are up to date and updating all software.Back up copies of data.Scrutinize links and files contained in emails.Only download software from trusted sources.I’ve always been fascinated with Eve Online.This video is a new trailer for it, containing actual comms from the game:I played it a bit in 2009, but I didn’t continue, simply because I realised that playing it to its full extent and possibility would be way too much time.To fully understand the economy, seek arbitrage opportunities, engage in guild politics, etc, was basically like living a second life.The game has an internal currency (ISK: InsterStellar Kredits), and what’s interesting is that you can buy game time with it.PLEX (or Pilot Licence EXtension) is an item that can be created by turning an Eve Time Code (bought externally) into it, and can then be traded as an item in the Eve Online universe.

It currently costs (on the open market) about 950M Isk to buy a PLEX.This is an interesting loophole for users to “buy” the in-game currency (instead of grinding for it), by buying a time code, converting to PLEX and selling it on the open market inside the game.It also means that the people who has made a lot of ISK can spend it to extend their game time.This means that because PLEX has a set rate outside the game (sold by CCP), you get a valuation of the in-game currency.This recently made headlines when it was announced earlier this year that a battle cost gamers nearly $300 000.In May, it was estimated that the economy of the Eve Online universe is worth $18 million.There is currently no easy way to get ISK turned into dollars, except doing it against the “terms of service”, and risking losing your account (you sell your in-game PLEX or ISK for USD outside the game).What’s interesting here is that, like with Second Life, if you constrain the feedback loops properly and create scarcity (time, and limited space) and a reason to engage with that, you can create value that is not limited to the restrictions of real life.

The potential entirely exists that you can create an alternate world where people can engage with a virtual world, earn Bitcoin there and use it to buy food in the real world.A recent attempt at this has also surfaced: BitQuest.A minecraft world where you can exchange Emeralds for Bitcoin.However, a problem that I see with something like BitQuest (and for the most part what happened with Second Life) is that you’ll most definitely have to comply with KYC/AML.In itself, it’s not that bad.Eve Online could create an exchange for ISK/USD if they wanted to.This is what Second Life does.However, they have had to implement stringent regulations to in-game activity after several hiccups.Additionally, as with Eve & Linden, they are both in control of monetary policy.A person might spend their time, money and effort to create value to turn back into USD, only to find that at some point in the future, the currency suddenly gets debased (doesn’t this sound too familiar?).Having a Bitcoin (or blockchain-based) game world means you have improvements in several ways:1) Both currencies can work in virtual as well as real life.

(Earn BTC through a dogfight, buy beer within 5min).4) Consensus-driven, verifiably shared experiences.I’ve enthused on the use of the blockchain in virtual reality, using it to create verifiable smart contracts and governance in alternate realities.If we are to create a virtual world where we can spend time, and earn actual value in Bitcoin without having to contend with burdensome regulation, it needs to be similarly censorship-resistant (like Bitcoin or OpenBazaar).My gut feeling is that these virtual worlds will increasingly become more blockchain-based to resist censorship and to increase the exploration of the idea.Second Life & Eve Online is the Napster of this.Besides using Bitcoin as in-game currency, you will have to use the blockchain to establish consensus on what is happening in this virtual world.A minimum viable blockchain-based game.So, to my mind, a blockchain-based virtual world will function as follows.The first possibility is to have a game that only functions on pre-defined set of rules that retains perfect state.

Each turn, simply changes the state.There is no way to deviate from this state if the rules are correctly defined.Each turn, a state change is committed to the blockchain, and is verified whether it is possible or not.However, with more complex games, this ruleset can become extremely large.For example, let’s say it is on the scale of Eve Online, would you commit actions such as “the player is able to move left”?It’s not scalable.A decision has to be made about what is required to function on consensus (something like game markets for example) and what is “fluff” that “fills out” the game world.Once a ruleset and protocol is defined, different implementations can exist.Much like Bitcoin, there are several wallets and libraries that engage in their own way with the consensus ledger.A variation would have better graphics.Another variation can allow “more movement” which is only decorative.Scale could also be achieved by leveraging a p2p system to hold world data, and simply use the blockchain to commit state (as hashes).

Codius is an example of this where smart contracts don’t “live” on the blockchain such as Ethereum, but simply keeps state of external assets.If the p2p system disappears, you can’t recreate the world (and its contacts).But it is more scalable.Another possible way to induce consensus is to have a web-of-trust (similar to Ripple or OpenBazaar’s identity problem).You can only engage if you are linked with it (need to flesh this out and think about it some more).At first glance (might be wrong), making money in a world where there is only a pre-defined ruleset seems a bit difficult.I like the of introducing (provably fair) randomness.This is possible as is seen with Bitcoin gambling sites (provably fair).BitZino is an example of this.A protocol is designed (along with game rules) how a player should use some skill to interact with these verifiably random events.They submit their actions to the blockchain, and the world “changes” based on this, creating a new state of verifiably random events.

Again, external clients interpret this (and can flesh it out as wished).The next step is to think of a very basic skill-game that involves some reason to “deposit” Bitcoin into this world, design a rudimentary protocol to interact with it and let the implementations flow.What’s important here is that if you can create a way to introduce Bitcoin into this world (maybe a sidechain?), and create rules to earn value, and make it censorship-resistant (no central game “server”, only implementations of the protocol), we can start exploring alternatives that doesn’t exist in the real world.Imagine if someone in a poor country, restricted by time and space to create local value, can go online and earn their keep in this virtual world.It’s an empowering idea.Maybe at some time in the future, the idea of “spending too much time” in Eve Online would not be seen as a trade-off, but a legitimate way to make money!I’m covering this and other blockchain possibilities in my new book: titled “The Blockchain: Mapping the decentralized future.” I’m writing it in public on Github.